The Diavik Diamond Mine, located 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, is an unincorporated joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (60 per cent) and Aber Diamond Mines Ltd. (40 per cent). Both are Canadian companies headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England, and Aber Diamond Mines Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aber Diamond Corporation of Toronto, Canada.

The Diavik Diamond Mine is projected to produce approximately 107 million carats of diamonds over its mine life of 16 to 22 years.

Diavik's current ore reserves comprise three diamond ore bodies, called kimberlite pipes. These pipes are located in shallow waters of Lac de Gras. To safely access the pipes, Diavik will construct dikes allowing the overlying waters to be removed temporarily. Diavik completed the first dike encircling the A154 North and A154 South pipes, and virtually all of the physical plant in 2002. Construction of a second dike is to begin in summer 2005.

Diavik is providing significant training, employment, and business opportunities to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut's West Kitikmeot region. These commitments are formalized in the Diavik Socio-Economic Monitoring Agreement, signed in 1999 with the Government of the Northwest Territories and ratified by the five Aboriginal groups, and in individual Participation Agreements concluded with five Aboriginal groups, including the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the North Slave Metis Alliance, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, and the Lutsel K'e Dene Band.

Diavik's commitment to training includes site-based and community-based training, and apprenticeships. In addition, the Diavik Workplace Learning Centre, supported by two adult educators, provides resources for workers to upgrade skills.

For operations, Diavik has committed to 66 per cent northern employment and 40 per cent Aboriginal employment and 70 per cent northern purchasing. At 2004 year end, northern and Aboriginal employment were 70 per cent and 38 per cent respectively with operations spending at 70 per cent northern.

A series of regulatory requirements as well as an Environmental Agreement between Diavik, Aboriginal groups, and federal and territorial governments, formalize Diavik's commitments to protecting the environment. Diavik formally involves communities in monitoring and in an advisory capacity through the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board created under the Environmental Agreement, the Diavik Communities Advisory Board under the Socio- Economic Monitoring Agreement, and implementation committees under its Participation Agreements.

For information on Diavik Diamond Mines mining operations see the MineSite page for Diavik.